Spring-tire for wheels.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

R. STONE. SPRING TIRE FOR WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18,1905.

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z/enzor RICHARD STONE, OF WELLINGTON, ENGLAND.

SPRING-TIRE FOR WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed February 18, 1905. Serial No. 246.269.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RIcI-IARD STONE, a subj ect of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Ferndale, Wellington, in the county of Salop,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-Tires for Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to spring-tiresfor wheels, and more especially to tires of the class adapted for use onthe wheels of self-propelled vehicles, such as motors, motor-omnibuses,wagons, or the like; and its object is to provide an improvedcombination and arrangement of parts by which a desirable resiliency isobtained with a minimum of cost, wear, and tear and with a hitherto-unattained simplicity of construction and by which it is comparativelyeasy to put the parts together in a short time, so that should thespringband be broken a new one may be easily and quickly put in withlittle delay.

Essentially this invention comprises, in combination with the main bodyof the wheel and a suitable tread, an endless inextensible and equallyall-around flexible steel band, two side supporting flange platescarried from the body of the wheel, and a buffer (rubber preferred) oneach side between these two. form projections from the tread.

I attain the aforesaid objects by means of the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a part-sectional sideview of a wheel constructed according to this my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional view on line A B of the top and bottom of the said wheel, thecentral portion forming no part of this my invention. Fig. 3 is apart-sectional view, and Fig. 4 a part plan view, of a portion of myinvention, showing means which may be used, if required,for preventingthe creeping movement of the tread in relation to the central part ofthe wheel.

These buffers are constructed so as to 7 is the tread of the tire, whichmay be of any suitable material; but for most cases probablyindia-rubber is preferred. This tread is furnished with an outstandingbufferflange S on each side, which is also preferably ofrubber, but maybe of other suitable material which is sufliciently flexible and capableof absorbing vibrations.

9 is an endless spring-band or combination of spring-bands, usually ofsteel, which fits tightly upon the interior of the tread 7. It isthought that a slight movement may take place between the inner surfaceof the tread and the outer surface of the band 9 when the said band isused without a lining 10, and it might, therefore, be an advantage. tohave the metal lining 10 between these two bodies, so that such amovement may take place between the two metallic surfaces. At the sametime the said lining is not absolutely necessary.

The inner diameter of the band 9 is greater than the exterior diameterof the felly, and this should be to such an extent that in ordinary usethe two will not touch each other at any time. In some cases I mayprovide an exterior cover 11 upon the felly, of felt, rubber, or othersuitable material, which may serve as a cushion to receive contact withthe interior of the band 9 should such a contact unavoidably take placeunder exceptional circumstancessuch, for instance, as passing over avery uneven surface.

12 12 are side flanged plates having the overhanging flan es 13 13, thesaid plates, when their size admits of convenient manufacture, beingreferably made each in one piece. These p ates are bolted to the follyby the bolts 14, any required number ofwhich may be used. On theinterior side of these plates a gap 15 is made of suflicient dimensionsto allow of free movement of the flanges 8 and the band 9.

Where excessive side wear is experienced, I may provide side plates 16,which may be secured in small segments to the sides of the tread in anyconvenient manner-such, for in stance, as by rivets or the like, asshown at 17.

In some cases there may be a tendency for a slight variation of movementto take place between the tread and the central part of the wheelthat isto say, between the tread and the plates 12and in order to prevent thisI may form in the side plates 12 any desirable number of notches or gaps18 and also form upon the segmental plates 16 correi spondingprojections 19, which shall engage with such gaps, so that the two mustnecessarily travel together. Otherequivalents to the gaps 18 and theprojections 19 may be used, such as by forming them upon thecircumference of the flanges 8 and the corresponding interior surfacesof the flanges 13; but the method illustrated appears to meetrequirements.

The action of this arrangement appears to be as follows-that is to say,when the tread of the wheel comes into contact with inequalities on theroad and pressure is applied at the uppermost part of the circumferenceof the buffer flanges 8 it is thence transmitted through the saidbuffers to the spring-band, by which the said buil'ers and the springare slightly flattened, and as the wheel rotates this point of pressurewith its slightly-flattened result is constantly changed around theremainder of the circumference. It also follows as an important pointthat, by reason of the flexibility of the band 9 being equal throughout,its constantly-changing position from the true circular form does nottend to break it, which possibility of breakage is also lessened by thefact that the vibratory shocks caused in travel are transmitted throughthe buffers aforesaid.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In spring-tires for wheels, the combination with a tread provided atits bottom with an annular buffer-flange, plates secured on the sides ofsaid tread and having lateral projections, side flange-plates bolted tothe telly and having overhanging flanges adapted to engage over saidbutler-flanges and provided with recesses for receiving saidprojections, and an endless flexible spring-b and surround ing the tellyat a distance therefrom and normally engaging the under side of saidtread.

2. In spring-tires for wheels, the combination with a tread. havingannuiar bufferflanges, of side flange-plates bolted to the felly andengaging over said bufler-flanges, an endless flexible spring-bandencircling the folly at a distance therefrom and normally engaging theunder side of said tread, and a cushion encircling said 'felly at adistance from said spring-band.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RICHARD STONE.

Witnesses:

J. BERNARD HAYWARD, T. V. FELLows.

